Ohio farmers are once again behind schedule on getting corn into the ground, although it’s still very early in the planting season for north central Ohio. / USDA

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News Journal

Some very dense fog has given way to what looks to be a beautiful Tuesday.

The fog shouldn’t have been surprising, given the emergent vegetation combined with the fact that we didn’t really dry out Monday from Sunday’s rains. Another round of fog could occur early Wednesday morning.

With high pressure off to the east and low pressure to our west, and both stationary, Ohio is perfectly situated for a long spell of very nice weather – sunny and warm. After a forecast high temperature around 75 degrees Tuesday, the area should see a peak for the week of 78 degrees on Wednesday.

Although it will likely cool down after Wednesday, high temperatures will only drop down to seasonal levels in the 60s. And importantly, overnight lows shouldn’t get anywhere near freezing.

None of the localities around here have yet reached their date of average last frost, but the fact that we’ll get through at least next Monday without one is good news for anyone wanting to plant something in the ground – or who already has.

Speaking of planting, while it’s still too early to see farmers in their fields here in Richland County, you don’t have to go too far west to see them getting very busy. And a few counties to the south, such as in Fairfield, there’s a lot of activity as well.

Once again Ohio’s farmers are behind schedule getting their corn in the ground because of this spring’s cool and somewhat wet conditions. Last spring the planting season was very much advanced because of unusual warmth starting in March. Ironically, the few farmers who waited missed much of last summer’s drought, which peaked in July.

Looking at the long-range forecast, there is talk of a cutoff low pressure center setting up somewhere in this part of the country by the weekend. May is the season around here for cutoff lows, which can turn our weather cool and damp for days, if not weeks, at a time. But it remains to be seen where this low will go.

Below are the weather statistics for Monday, April 29, at my location 4 miles north-northwest of Fredericktown, Ohio: